Who is your Model Woman?

Clothed with strength and dignity, she is the Model Woman. Far from being perfect but being perfected in and through her experiences and along the way positively impacting the lives of others. She is you, me, the stay-at-home mom, CEO in the boardroom, the single woman, the working woman, community leader, household assistant, pastor, no matter the role or position.; she is a Model Woman.

Six children she raised, a housewife, always at home and looking out for the best interest of the family. There was never a day that I returned from school and she was not there. She was also a dressmaker, who sewed only for her children and the only person who I knew could bake without using any measuring apparatus. Her Christmas cakes were the best!! Every Saturday morning, bar none, she traveled to Coronation Market. A trip she loved to make. I went on many of them with her.

She was wholly dependent on my father for financial assistance. I loved her, but at the same time feared becoming like her, for the sole reason that she had nothing of her own and she was dependent on my father to provide for her. She always honoured and respected him and served him hand and foot.

No matter what time my dad came home she served him a hot meal, even without him asking. I hated that, because I never once heard him say thanks. She was selfless and I could not understand why she chose to stay home. Especially in an environment that was “not so harmonious” most of the time. Me stay at home? Never. Independence was the goal for me, my own money, my job, my things, my life…my OWN EVERYTHING!!!

However, as I grew older I began to appreciate mom being at home. The place could not run without her. It was proven time and time again. She left a few times and eventually came back, every time. However, overtime we took her for granted, but she remained steadfast in her commitment and unconditional love for us.

I remembered the last time I saw her, I was upset with her, because she did something for me and I did not like the way she did. I left home angry that day. However, later I realized that I was too harsh and had an apology card, a gift and a bar of her favourite chocolate in my tote bag. However, my hopes of reconciliation were dashed when my sister met me at the street corner, before I could reach home that mom was in the hospital. When I saw her in the hospital she was unconscious, she suffered a stroke and passed away. I found it hard to recover. It was difficult to forgive myself. It took a long time to come to terms with it.

She was not a Christian; however, she always shared a scripture form the book of Psalms before I went to bed. I would see her cry sometimes and I promised myself I would take her away from here one day and take her to a “happy place”. I knew that she served and loved us through her trials and pain. She sacrificed a lot for me, for our family and I did not get a chance to tell her how much she meant to me; how much I appreciated her. It was the one time in life I can truly say, “I did not get a second chance.”

Now, when I look back on her life. I realized that, though not perfect, she taught and showed me unconditional love, how to honour a spouse, irrespective of how the spouse treats you and how to manage a household. She is my MODEL WOMAN…one of.

We have an opportunity now to tell the person who is a Model Woman to you how they impacted your life and honour them for it. This is counter to what we have been taught or seen, as this is usually reserved for preparing a eulogy. I am convinced that this should change and we should share our appreciation testimony while the person is still with us. Make the effort to let them know that they do indeed matter and change your life, for the better, no matter how small. Launched in May of this year, Model Woman is a ministry that has this simple objective; to recognize the woman/women in our lives who have helped to mould us and model the character of Christ to us.

Another person I consider my Model Woman is Mrs. Patricia Scully. She mentored and discipled me for over 15 years. She is like a mother figure to me. Her advice to me is always “Remember who you are in Christ Sophie.” Indeed, there are many godly women who discipled younger women; there were those who trained and mentored them, transforming them by God’s grace.

As we reflect on how to minister to women today, we should remember and recognize those who have blessed us, particularly my Pastor, Mrs. Joan Fletcher, who encouraged me to launch the Model Woman Ministry and hosted it at her home. The next meeting will be held in September 2017. For more information, check out Model Woman Ministry on Facebook.